Ricky Williams says Ravens just need to hit the Patriots in the mouth

Ravens running back Ricky Williams has played against the Patriots 13 times in his NFL career, so he can tell his teammates plenty about their opponents in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

And Williams says he wants his teammates to know this: The way to take the Patriots out of their game is to hit them and hit them hard.

“If you hit them in the mouth and you stand up to them, that’s the way you play it,” Williams told the Baltimore Sun. “I think when you’re as good as they are, you get used to people kind of being intimidated. And I think when you show them that you’re not, it automatically makes them have to change the way they’re used to playing, and that automatically gives us an advantage.”

Those comments are likely to find their way to the Patriots’ locker room, where some players on the Patriots’ defense will be motivated to hit Williams in the mouth for opening his mouth.

Williams is more cerebral than people want to give him credit for. If the Patriots are dumb enough to get into a slug fest with a team like Baltimore, it will not be pretty. ie. Baltimore’s type of game.

Rickey Williams would hurt himself punching anyone in the mouth with those little hands. It’s hard enough for him to hold on to a joint never mind a football.
Money well spent on a “player” who has only 444 yards rushing and 83 receiving with as many fumbles (lost) as touchdowns – TWO! Wow!
Sounds like Ricky has been punched in the mouth all year.

For the Ravens to win on Sunday, they will have to defeat two teams. The 2011 Pats and the Patriots “mythic legend”. The first battle is on the field, the latter is in the Ravens heads during the week leading up to the game. Given the way the Ravens have stayed loose this week, I like their prospects for winning on the field on Sunday.

“Those comments are likely to find their way to the Patriots’ locker room, where some players on the Patriots’ defense will be motivated to hit Williams in the mouth for opening his mouth.”
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I never understood that logic. Do you think the Pats D is going to tackle Ricky harder than Ray Rice because of a one line sentence. So by that logic Mayo is going to fill the hole and tackle the RB, but when he sees Williams has the ball he quickly remembers the quote, gets angry, and delivers a bigger hit than he normally would?

If you need bulletin board material to get you fired up being 60 minutes from the Super Bowl you need to see a doctor.

steeltownpride says:Jan 21, 2012 9:34 AM

Patriots please shut up the Ravens for us . We get tired of hearing the samething come from their mouths . You win with play on the field not talking off of it .

Ricky Williams should keep his mouth closed, he has never won anything. Heisman yes, but nothing as a team

grogansheroes says:Jan 21, 2012 9:36 AM

Because the Pats throw the ball often, every one thinks they are soft. Nothing could be further from the truth. They have road graters for tackles, two of the toughest SOB’s at guard. Not to mention their defensive line, and Spikes and Mayo. Look for Spikes to have some tremendous pops on Williams and Rice.

billybatty says:Jan 21, 2012 9:37 AM

Ricky Williams on sunday- hits to the mouth
Ricky Williams on monday- hits from the bong

Any time Ricky says anything we get weak weed jokes. It’s not even close to being clever

lostsok says:Jan 21, 2012 9:41 AM

“Hit them in the mouth” is a turn of phrase you twits. “In the trenches” doesn’t mean they dig an actual trench, and they’re not committing war crimes or invading countries when they “blitz.”

Being overly literal in football in nonsensical, as is anyone trying to make something more out of Ricky’s comments than they are: a simply analysis of the mind-set needed to beat the Patriots. He says nowhere that they’re going to. He doesn’t not denigrate New England at all.

Frankly, what he’s saying is so obvious it’s almost incontrovertible. If you go up against a team like New England back on your heels and scared, they will chew you up.

How is that an insult in any way, shape or form???

lostsok says:Jan 21, 2012 9:42 AM

“fastwillie39 says: Ricky Williams should keep his mouth closed, he has never won anything.”

How about an NFL rushing title? Sheesh.

pftcensorssuck says:Jan 21, 2012 9:44 AM

ud1hens says:
I never understood that logic. Do you think the Pats D is going to tackle Ricky harder than Ray Rice because of a one line sentence. So by that logic Mayo is going to fill the hole and tackle the RB, but when he sees Williams has the ball he quickly remembers the quote, gets angry, and delivers a bigger hit than he normally would?

If you need bulletin board material to get you fired up being 60 minutes from the Super Bowl you need to see a doctor
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You’ve obviously never played a sport more challenging than chess.

At the NFL level, everyone has physical skills. The success comes from execution mentally, and nothing clears your head like being “fired up”, also known as being “focused”.

It’s like when one of the kids on the other chess team said you didn’t know a rook from a pawn, and it made you want to go out and show hi ……. awww, nevermind.

Anyone think that Logan Mankins is afraid of getting hit in the mouth by Ricky Williams? This is all easy for someone who won’t even be a factor in the game to say.

pftcensorssuck says:Jan 21, 2012 9:46 AM

steeltownpride says:
Jan 21, 2012 9:34 AM
Patriots please shut up the Ravens for us . We get tired of hearing the samething come from their mouths . You win with play on the field not talking off of it .

Signed Steeler fans everywhere
———————————————————
Yeah …. ’cause the Steelers NEVER talk trash before a game.

jicjak says:Jan 21, 2012 9:47 AM

Try that on the Gronk and you’ll be picking grass out of your teeth for a month.

He’s right. Why are the insecure Pats fans lashing out at Williams about this? It’s not a slam. It’s just a fact. That’s how you beat most everyone. Chill out Pats apologists. making us real pats fans look bad.

Ricky. Shouldn’t EVERY team take that to the field EVERY Sunday against EVERY opponent ?

Boi must be hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh again.

izzop says:Jan 21, 2012 9:51 AM

you mean like that knock out hit Ricky Williams took from Asante Samuel of all people?

cliverush says:Jan 21, 2012 9:54 AM

The Broncos had one player after another go down in their game against the Pats. The conditioning of both teams (Pats and Ravens) has to be tops for them to reach this game. Execution of game plans will be the key.

dionoil says:
Jan 21, 2012 9:40 AM
Any time Ricky says anything we get weak weed jokes. It’s not even close to being clever

================================
That’s nothing! How would like to see (almost evry day) Belicheat, spygate, film the practice, cheat on the injury report, etc…etc…Haters are going to hate….

nesuperfan says:Jan 21, 2012 10:08 AM

I am not so sure that Ricky has any clue beyond what everyone already knows: Hit Brady, and you have a shot…but can you actually do it? His teams certainly were not able to do it with a lot of success.

Overall record 3-10 by a score of 342-250, including a one-point, and two-point win out of those three win. He gained 917 yards on 234 attempts for a 3.9 average, but almost 1/4 of it in one game they lost.

He has only two games against what could be considered the modern Patriots offense, both blowouts in 2010. He did not play them in 2007, and in 2009, Brady was still coming back.

I guess we will see tomorrow how much Ricky know, or is able to execute. Beyond his mouth, I predict he will be a non-factor again.

TheDPR says:Jan 21, 2012 10:08 AM

I think it might be a good game for awhile and then I remember the Ravens visits to Jacksonville, San Diego, Tenessee, and Seattle. Champions can put up a stinker or two and still be champions, but HALF their road games?

They have a 50-50 shot at even playing well, so their chances of winning have to be quite a bit less than that.

annes22 says:Jan 21, 2012 10:08 AM

Ricky knows how to play them, why wouldn’t he???
When he was with the Dolphins he played them twice a year, and won too. Harass the”pretty boy” and see what happens?? He doesn’t like that and their defense is suspect too. They have been saved this season by Wes as usual, and their FB and TE.
If Flacco plays like last week, the Ravens won’t win
anything, he sucks, maybe he listened to Ed Reed.

thefiesty1 says:Jan 21, 2012 10:10 AM

Give Ricky 20 to 25 carries and Rice another 15 to 20 and only throw 10 passes. Pound them over and over. Ricky deserves a Super Bowl after wasting 10-12 years in New Orleans and Miami.

I love how Steelers fans complain about how Ravens Fans talk to much…. But when you get into it with them, 9 times out of 10 they revert to how many Super Bowls they’ve won…. Steelers fans should be rooting for the Ravens. When you guys swept us a few years ago, I guarantee you over half of the Ravens Fans were cheering for the Steelers because you swept us. We wanted the better team and the AFC North to take it home, and you did… So man up “Steeler Nation” admit that you guys really don’t want the NFL’s Pony Boy, Tom Brady, in another Super Bowl

Yet somehow I think that I will see a Ravens defensive player get dinged up and have to go to the bench after almost every play. Tough guys that they are, they will of course be able to return to the game.

harrisonhits2 says:Jan 21, 2012 10:15 AM

Meh, some reporter asked Ricky Williams a question and he answered it with pretty much the standard thing that every analyst is saying about the game.

I’m a Pats fan and I don’t see any reason this comment stands out as bulletin board material or anything to rile people up.

And Ricky may smoke weed but he’s being paid millions more than probably all the people on this board making poor jokes about it.

toledoohoh says:Jan 21, 2012 10:31 AM

It’s the answer of someone who doesn’t have any real ideas how to beat them.

No one was intimidated by the Patriots this year. In fact I’d say most of the teams came into Gillette expecting to play the same mentally soft teams of 2010 and 2009. Not even the Broncos seemed cocnerned about playing us the 2nd time. Well all I have to say is it wasn’t us who got punched in the mouth. I’m glad the Ravens are taking us lightly

Hey, it was the Steelers game plan to beat the Pats and it worked. In fact, any pass heavy offense is best slowed down by making the receivers pay for making catches. It has been for a loooong time. With the exception for Gronk, that makes perfect sense.

pats fan here, but cant disagree with ricky mcweed on this one. when tom gets hit he gets flustered. when our recievers see physical play on the line, it throws the timing of this precision offense off

we need to dominate on the line and we need to pull together a solid defensive effort. a couple turnovers would be huge for our d.

dontouchmyjunk says:Jan 21, 2012 11:15 AM

Well, maybe Ricky ought to shut his mouth but it’s not like what he’s saying isn’t true. That IS the way to beat the Patriots. It’s the way to beat a lot of teams who have high powered offenses. The trick is to do it within the rules. Which these days, isn’t an easy task.

rayriceisnice says:Jan 21, 2012 11:19 AM

Patriots fans are delusional, the ravens are gonna crush the pats. Book it

Problem is—–That is what the Patriots need to do to Joe Flacco too to take out the Ravens. I bet Flacco blinks first in this one. Flacco runs into the fetal position faster than a jack rabbit from a coyote when he is pressured.

steeltownpride says:
Jan 21, 2012 9:34 AM
Patriots please shut up the Ravens for us . We get tired of hearing the samething come from their mouths . You win with play on the field not talking off of it .

————————-

Between their constant clinging to past successes, and all their tough talk only to see their Steelers completely destroyed by the Ravens, by the Niners on national TV in a game they had to win, and by the damn Broncos in the playoffs, I hope you can understand the staggering irony of a Steelers fan blasting another team because you have to win “on the field.”

It’s the AFC Championship. The Ravens DID win on the field, that’s why they’re there and you’re on your couch.

kmkhaine says:
Jan 21, 2012 1:48 PM
Pats fans are sure confident for a team that can’t beat a team with a winning record.

Ravens fans sure are confident for a team that plays .500 on the road and has a QB that gets called out by his own team mates.

CKL says:Jan 21, 2012 5:34 PM

I’m a Pats fan and I don’t mind what Ricky said at all. The only thing I take exception to is his feeling that the Pats opponents may feel intimidated these days. Those years are over. They ended after the Pats stopped having great defenses in 05. Great defense is what intimidates.

Even in 07 when the Pats were winning with videogame offense they truly intimidated no one. And rightfully so, finesse doesn’t intimidate.

THIS version of the Pats has shown itself to be as mentally tough as some of the older Pats teams. The important thing is that THEY are no longer intimidated when they get way behind in games when they used to just fold up (see 2009). And they are getting more physically tough too. We’ll see how it plays out.

As to that whole “winning record” stat, it is SO meaningless. The Pats rolled over a bunch of playoff teams last year on their way to 14-2 then got beat down with no playoff wins. This year they “beat no one” and rolled their first playoff opponent. It’s the absolute truth that the only thing that matters is tomorrow at 3, how each team plays. That’s IT.

blackqbwhiterb says:Jan 21, 2012 5:48 PM

Tom Brady read this article and immediately started calling for a flag.

Williams gives an honest opinion, but the patriot homer, media fan boy” can’t take it. You know who I’d like to hit in the mouth? Michael David Smith, Skip Bayless, and many others yellow media jerks who write checks their butt’s can’t cash!

After reading all the postings here, I can certainly back up my life long statement that PATS fans are aggravating braggarts who cannot focus on the topic at hand.

Amazing how people quote Ricky’s stats vs Pats, and yet have to throw in words about Brady. It is not Brady vs Ricky… unless some idiots here cannot figure out that it is the Pats DEFENSE vs Ricky in all those games. Gaining 4.0 yds per carry vs the Pats shows Ricky (at his advanced age for a RB) can still outperform any other running back who also has played vs the Pats. And he did it behind a shaky, and sometimes piss-poor offensive line at Miami.

So give credit where credit is due. He might have been a wreck at times in his personal life, but when he was on the field, he always has been a consummate pro who gives 110%.

I really hope for another Giants – Pats SuperBowl so that I can watch Eli beat them again! I have 2 favorite teams BTW…. Miami (no matter how bad they suck) and any team playing New England.

Only way Ricky Williams does anything tomorrow is if the Ravens line the end zone with bags of Doritos.

The point is not what Ricky said or that he said it. It’s the fact that this is the way you beat most teams. It’s not exactly earth shattering strategy.

ahostiletakeover says:Jan 22, 2012 9:43 AM

i’m looking at one key matchup that everyone is overlooking: 2nd string center Ryan Wendell vs Haloti Ngata and Terrence Cody. Dan Koppen is an underrated center and I’m not sure Wendell has every faced off against this Ravens defensive line that mustered a good amount of pressure from 3-4 linemen (4.5 sacks from DE Redding, 6 sacks from rookie DE McPhee, Ngata with 5). Getting that much pressure from 3-4 ends (whose primary job is to occupy blockers not get sacks) is gonna be the key to the Ravens success. There is definitely the potential for tons of pressure up the middle which will get Brady off his spot in the pocket where he is at his best.
We’ll see if Pagano and his defense can do that later, should be a great game either way.

annes22 says:Jan 22, 2012 6:36 PM

Way to go Ricky, home for the holidays. You don’t need to give Brady any locker room fodder. Maybe you need to find a new kicker too. Even with Brady playing like crap, you can’t win.